Jet Park factory could be behind dam pollution
It is suspected waste has been pumped into the dam at the intersection of Rondebult and Yaldwyn roads, Jet Park, and that this could have serious ecological consequences if it’s not immediately addressed.
The water has had an unnatural blueish-green colour to it since Saturday (October 14).
The DA Ekurhuleni spokesperson for environmental development, André du Plessis, and ward councillor Simon Lapping reported the matter to the Department of Environmental Health on Saturday.
However, they received an unsatisfactory response.
“We were informed that inspectors will only test the water on Monday, which is unacceptable,” said du Plessis.
“They should have standby teams for emergencies like this.”
It’s unknown who is responsible for the waste flowing into the dam, but according to du Plessis and Lapping, it’s definitely coming from a factory in Jet Park.
They said this may be connected to the major power outage the area has been suffering since last Monday (October 9).
Du Plessis added that the department does have the mandate to go to the factories and trace the source.
The councillors fear that the dumping of waste into this dam may have ecological consequences, depending what is in the water and how long it has been in the water.
“We don’t know the long-term effects of whatever is being dumped in the dam,” said du Plessis.
The water from this dam goes through all the Benoni dams, to Blesbokspruit, ending up at Vaal Barrage, where Gauteng gets its drinking water from.
The Advertiser contacted the Ekurhuleni metro for comment, but is still waiting for a response.
